Scientists find 'ghost octopods' deep within the ocean

A new study documents the discovery of an octopod that looks like a "cartoon ghost."

As the Washington Post reports, the NOAA Okeanos expedition team has spotted the creatures over the past few years in approximately 13,000-foot-deep waters near the Hawaiian Archipelago and the Peru Basin.

Further study resulted in the identification of 2 new species consisting of 29 total members.

The paper goes on to state that "the majority of individuals we observed were of the 'Casper' morphotype."

It then explains that "the lack of chromatophores in this morphotype gives individuals a partially translucent appearance, reminiscent of the cartoon ghost."

Researchers warn in the study that these octopods could be vulnerable to habitat loss due to the potential mining activities in the area.

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NOAA Ocean Explorer sea creatures

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NOAA Ocean Explorer sea creatures

A purple crinoid hangs out on a dead coral stalk.

(Photo via NOAA)

D2 discovered one of the largest aggregations of brisingid sea stars anyone on the ship had ever seen.

(Photo: NOAA)

Seeing two deep sea animals interacting with each other is rare. What is particularly rare is when they behave the opposite of how we expect them to. As we approached this armored sea robin, a brittle star climbed on top. We were pretty sure that the fish would try to eat the brittle star, but as it turns out, it just wanted to dislodge the extra baggage. The brittle star then proceeded to climb on top of the sea robin two more times.

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Benthic jellyfish.

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Brisingid sea stars.

(Photo via NOAA)

Ceramaster granularis. (Goniasteridae)

(Photo via NOAA)

Neomorphaster forcipatus (Stichasteridae).

(Photo via NOAA)

This beautiful hydromedusa was imaged in Washington Canyon. Unfortunately, none of the scientists watching the dive live specialized in water column life. However, due to the pace at which telepresence allows us to disseminate information, the video of this organism was quickly circulated around the country to experts in the field and the hydromedusa was identified as Cyclocanna welshi with a couple days.

(Photo via NOAA)

We imaged this purple octopus with large glassy eyes during dive #8.

(Photo via NOAA)

Crossota sp., a deep red medusa found just off the bottom of the deep sea.

(Photo via NOAA)

Anemone attached to a carbonate boulder near the GC852 sampling station at 1,500 meters depth.

(Photo via NOAA)

A lovely sea cucumber dancing in the water column is imaged by the Little Hercules ROV at approximately 1500 meters depth offshore Kona, Hawaii. Image taken during ROV shakedown operations aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer on March 22, 2010.

(Photo via NOAA)

Here, an octopus mother protects her eggs in Hendrickson Canyon. If you look closely, you can see the eyes of a baby octopus through the egg.

(Photo via NOAA)

Portrait of a juvenile boxfish, 1 cm long, collected by a bluewater diver in the top 30 meters of the Celebes Sea water column.

(Photo via NOAA)

Image of the breathtaking squid captured on camera during ROV Dive 3.

(Photo via NOAA)

Rock hind in a sponge photographed while free diving off Klien Bonaire in about 20 ft. of water. Image courtesy of Bonaire 2008: Exploring Coral Reef Sustainability with New Technologies, Chris Coccaro, NOAA-OE.

This giant isopod is a representative of one of approximately nine species of large isopods (crustaceans related to shrimps and crabs) in the genus Bathynomus. They are thought to be abundant in cold, deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Bob Carney of LSU caught this specimen in one of his deep-water fish traps.

(Photo via NOAA)

Aulococtena is the size and color of an orange and has two tentacles that are white, thick, unbranched and very sticky. This species has been encountered from 350-1100 meters deep on this expedition.